The Dark Mage

Chapter 8: Hunting Gumiho

   Today was the day Gumiho was going to pay for her crimes. But something needed to happen to get Gumiho out in the open. Inari was going to need bait, and not just any bait, but a delicacy. So, Inari dressed in her new modest clothes not wanting the kind of lustful attention her old clothes brought towards herself. And although she enjoyed the attention her old fashion brought towards her gorgeous, foxy body, she felt like this wasn't the occasion for that. She then went to see her brother in his monastery catechizing the Protogens and Kitsunes that decided to join him and asked him plenty of questions. But without being a priest, Victor had no authority to perform any sacraments and just had to do what he could. But rather than catechize the youth, old Kitsunes, and Protogens solely through words and lectures like he was forced to do when teaching theology at a Szolsuran university, which he hated doing, he thought it best to catechize them through leading by example. And when Inari saw this, she noticed a change in these Kitsunes in the sense that the influence of Dark magic was weaker on them than it had been before as if finding real meaning and purpose could serve as an antidote to Dark magic. However, Inari didn't quite understand what her brother was teaching, so she merely watched while no one was paying attention to her. However, when the Protogens and Kitsunes noticed Inari, they bowed before her, but in a rare moment of humility, Inari said, "There is no need to bow before me in this temple. In here, we are of equal standing as the authority of the gods are above my own."

     The small crowd then stood up straight as Inari asked, "Victor, I know this is important to you, but... I have to speak to you privately just between us."

     Victor then said to the small crowd, "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to cut this short. Go home and see me next week if you're interested in learning more about the faith," while Victor went with his sister to his cell. Then Victor asked, "What is it that you needed to talk to me about?"

     Inari couldn't look at her brother in the eye as she remained silent. And after a while, she broke the silence and said, "I don't want to have to say it, but I need you as bait to lure Gumiho out of hiding."

     Victor immediately said, "That's not happening."

     But Inari pleaded, "Please. I can't allow Gumiho to kill anymore Kitsunes, and I know you'd feel the same way. But unless I have a pure heart to lure her out, there's not a chance we'll find her and bring her to justice."

     Victor saw his sister's expression and felt with his Ethereal magic that his sister was being sincere and not merely a false compassion. Victor then contemplated his sister's changing state of mind and said, "I see you're changing for the better. But I'm not becoming bait unless there's absolutely no other way to lure Gumiho out of hiding."

      Inari subconsciously touched her face while saying, "I understand, and I'm willing to listen if you have a better method."

     Victor took a deep breath and said, "I can't say I know all the answers, but one of many answers might be enabling the people to be able to protect themselves."

     Inari gasped. "Arming the population?! Have you lost your mind?!"

     However, Victor was unmoved. "I hold the opinion our people need to learn to protect themselves, if not Gumiho, then something else will come after them. And right now, that's Dark magic, and I won't always be there to protect them."